Process of removing nicotin from articles made of tobacco.



v BEST AVA'DILABLE COP A. FALK. PROCESS OF REMOVING NICOTIN PROM ARTICLES MADE OF TOBACCO.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 2. 1903.

M Wm. rm 6 PATENTED Nov. 7; 1 905.

BEST AVAILABLE coP I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AUGUST FAIJK, OF VIENNA, AUSTRIA-HUNGARY.

PROCESS OF REMOVING NICOTIN FROM ARTICLES MADE OF TOBACCO.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 7, 1905.

Application filed February 2, 1903. Serial No, 141,461.

To all 1072 0712, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, AUGUST F ALK, man u facturer, of IV Margarctenstrasse 22, Vienna, Austria-Hungary, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes of Removing Nicotin from Finished Articles Made of TobaccoCigars, Cigarettes, and the Likeof which the following isaspecification. This invention relates to a process of treating tobacco and finished articles made of tobaccosuch as cigars, cigarettes, &c.,for the purpose of removing the greater part of the nicotin contained therein.

The improved process is carried on as fol-- lows: The finished articles of tobacco just as they are to be had in commerce, (cigarettes remainingin their wrappers, if desired)that is to say, without any special preparation are submitted for a certain time to a gradually-increasing heating in a closed vessel, eX- cluding the further admission of atmospheric air and protected against the direct action of radiating heat. The developed vapors are condensed by means of a cooling device projecting into the heating-space and located at the top of the heating vessel. The condensed vapors are led away from the vessel by means of another device, as hereinafter described.

. By this means I am able not only to obtain, if 30 desired, the nicotin contained in the liquid of condensation, but by suitably carrying on the process a gradually-increasing and then constant temperature in the heating-space. Furthermore, a quickand continuous circulation of the developed vapors is produced by cooling and reheating them. ally heating to a predetermined temperature, as described, the escape of the flavoring substances is prevented, while, on the other hand, the circulating vapors of nicotin and ammonia of the tobacco are condensed and removed. The adyantages of my improved process are as follows: First, the amount of nicotin of the treated articles is very largely reduced; second, the fine flavor of the tobacco is neither reduced nor lost, as all the ingredients necessary for the aroma remain in the tobacco; third, the tobacco treated according to this process burns better and with white ashes, having a better draft; fourth, the process may be executed quickly in an easy manner and at mall expense by means of an apparatus as -rcinafter described or by means of any er apparatus of similar construction and n a large or small scale even by a smoker i own needs.

By thus gradu- The accompanying drawing shows in vertical section an apparatus for carrying out the improved process of removing nicotin, as heretofore described.

This apparatus consists of a vessel a, having double walls and a sand packing 0 between these walls. This vessel a is coveredon the inside of its bottom with alternating layers of asbestos d and of glass tubes 6, and the whole inner wall is fitted with a lining of vertical glass tubes f, connected together by means of wires. This lining has for its purpose to protect the articles under treatment from the direct radiating heat of the bottom and walls and to maintain a constant and speedy circulation of the heated air, whereby an equal and gradual heating of the tobacco or articles to be treated is secured. In the space between these linings the tobacco or articles to be treated are placed, preferably, in a vertical position in one or more baskets of wire 9, which in turnare freely suspended, by means of books It, distant from the lining.

At the top of the vessel a there is arranged a receptacle 5, the upper portion of which is filled with constantly-circulating cooling-water. This receptacle 7; forms the lid of the vessel a and a portion of the heating-space. A bottom it, fixed in about half the height of the receptacle i, is conically shaped, the apex of the cone being directed downward in such a manner that this bottom projects into the heating-space like a funnel. This device has for its-purpose to condense the rising vapors on the cooling-surface increased by its conical form and to cool the heated air. The liquid of condensation is led toward the apex of the cone, where it is allowed to drop into a vessel Z, from which it is conducted away by means of a pipe m, surrounded by a mantle of asbestos. In consequence of the conical shape of the cooling-surface the cooled air, deprived by condensation of all the vapors, is compelled to continuously pass through the tobacco or articles, whereby it is again saturated with vapors and to rise reheated along the wall of vessel a, and thus to continue circulation.

At a suitable place a thermometer 71 extends across the receptacle 11 into the interior of the heating vessel (0 for the purpose of controlling the temperature in the latter, which temperature may be produced by heating the vessel by means of any suitable source of heat.

The process of removing nicotin is carried through as follows: The articles to be treated IIO are introduced into and fixed in the heating vessel (4 by means of baskets of wire whereupon the vessel a is closed by putting on the receptacle z. Heat is then produced by a gasjet or other means. When the thermometer shows a temperature of 50 to 70 Celsius in the interior of the vessel, cooling-water is introduced into the upper portion of the receptacle a. As the temperature rises in the heating vessel, vapor arises from the articles undergoing treatment, which vapor is condensed on the bottom is and conducted away by the pipe m, a circulation of the inclosed air and vapor being maintained by the alternate heating and cooling. Heating of the air in the vessel a is continued until the temperature in the interior of the vessel has attained the necessary degree. The temperature, however, should be different for various articles of tobacco; but in no case should it exceed 200 Celsius. For instance, with tobacco for smoking, especially when finely cut, the surface of contact with the heated air is relatively very great, and the temperature may be brought to a maximum of 150 to 160 Celsius, while with cigarettes in paper envelops or with small thin cigars the temperature may be 160 to 17 Celsius, and large thick cigars must be exposed to a temperature of at least 185 to 195 Celsius. The time for carrying through the process will ot'course depend from the temperature to be attained.

' As soon as the desired temperature is attained the source of heat is cut off, the cooling apparatus, however, being left at work. A mod-- erate rising of about 5 to 10 Celsius of the temperature in the vessel will then be observed, owing to the fact that the vessel a and its packing accumulate heat to a considerable extent, which stored heat is given out even after the external source of heat is out ofl"; but afterward a gradual cooling takes place. During the whole process the products of condensation flow ofi through the pipe 471. When the thermometer shows a temperature of about Celsius in the vessel, the cooling apparatus is evacuated and removed. The baskets of wire are taken out of the vessel with the treated articles therein and the latter placed upon dishes and allowed to slowly cool. At this stage the rest of the vapors escape, and the process thus being finished the treated tobacco articles may at once be commerclally BEST AVAILABLE COP and of course I do not claim such a process broadly. The present invention, however, makes it possible for the nicotin to be removed from finished articles of tobacco in a 7 very simple, cheap, and effective manner and by means of an apparatus which can be made for either a small number of cigars or for hundreds or thousands.

A great advantage of this process is that the ingredients (citric acid and malic acid) giving the tobacco the peculiar and agreeable flavor and taste are not removed nor is the structure of the articles destroyed;

.Having thus described my invention, what ,I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A process for reducing the amount of nicotin contained in tobacco by means of a slow dry distillation, consisting in suspendingthe articles to be treated'in a substantially closed vessel, protecting them from the heat radiating from the interior walls of the vessel, gradually heating the lower part of the vessel and its contents to a maximum of 150 to 193 Celsius according to the kind and dimensions of the articles to be treated and for the purpose of freeing the tobacco from its moisture and nicotin, cooling the upper side of the vessel so that the rising vapor will be condensed thereon, draining the condensed liquid from the upper side of the vessel to the exterior and continuing the operation until the nicotin has been removed to thedesired extent.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name, this 16th day of January, 1903, in I the presence of' two subscribing witness es.

AUGUST FALK.

Witnesses:

Or'ro ENGLISCH, ALVESTO S. HOGUE. 

